Steam-pressure-regulating mechanism



APPLICATION FILED MAY 2|, 192l- Patented May 2,1922

WILLIAM B. FULTON, orivrinnnnrown, OHIO.

sTEAM-rnnssUnE-REeU ATINe MECHANISM. 1

T all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, WVILLIAM B. FULTON, a

V citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Pressuregreat.

Regulating Mechanism, of which the follow' ing is a specification,'reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to steam pressure-'- regulating mechanism for use in connection with steam paperdriers.

In the art of paper making there is used, what is known as a paper drier--an arrangement of hollow cylinders over which the paper is passed for the purpose of drying it.

that steam may be introduced into them from a boiler. The several cylinders constitute a unit, all having a common connection with the boiler. The supply of steam to the point of distribution amongthe cylinders is controlled by a valve. The steam which gathers at this point of distribution is permitted to gradually exhaust. when its pressure, and therefore the intensity of the heat, is too Automatic mechanism is employed for controlling these valves, both the inlet and the exhaust valve. But in practice this mechanism has not been under the control of an operator, with the consequence that the exhaust valve will often remain open too long. This reduces the pressure of steam too much andchills the drying rollers, which re tards or'prevents the drying of the paper, so that all of the paper passing over the drying rolls during such an interval is insufficiently dried, if really dried at all.

It is to overcome these practical difficulties that my'invention is designed. I purpose to put within the control of the attendant the steam which in-the system described is employed to operate the piston which, in turn, is designed to open the exhaust valve, so that when he observes that the exhaust valve is about to remain open too long he can in stantly relieve this piston of the pressure of steam which is then acting to move the piston too far with the tendency to open the exhaust valve too wide and to keep it open too long.

By relieving this piston of the effect or continued effect of this steam he can either cause the exhaust valve, to stand at the then degree to which it is open or to return to its seat and close.

Such is the object of my invention and I Specification of Letters Patent.

1921. Serial Nb. 471,362.

thisI carry out and accomplish by the means and in the manner hereinafter stated.

The accompanyingdrawing shows a part of the apparatus in vertical section'and a part in elevation, the features embracing my improvements being shown at the left side of the cylinder illustrated in section.

1. do not deem it necessary to illustrate'the drier, but it will be understood that an in let valve 1 is in a pipe line between a steam supply or boiler and this drier. This valve comprises a casing 52, a valve seat 3, a'valve proper 4 and its stem 5. In the drawing this valve now stands open and it will beunderstood that the steam is flowing through the valve casing from the supply to the drier. These cylinders are so mountedand equipped Connected with the drier at some con venient place is a valve 6 comprising a casing '7, a seat 8, a valve proper 9 having a stem 10.

This valve is shownclosed because the steam in the drierhas not fluctuated or risen to a degree requiring it to be reduced by a partial exhaustion. In this situation things may be stated tobe normal. 7

But there will-come a time when the pressure in the drier will become excessive with a tendency to overheat the drying rolls and to injure the paper. "When that condition is reached the thing to do is to close the inlet valve 1 and open the exhaust valve6. This up and down in the-cylinderupward under the excess pressure of the steam in the drier and downward by its weight when the pres sure of the steam is lessened, or, in thecase of my invention, when some of the steamis permitted to escape from the cylinder 18 at a point below the position the piston 19 may then occupy.

I have spoken of the lever 11 as connected with. the valve stems 5 and 10. This lever fulorums on one or the other of these stems. lV hen the descent of the piston 19 draws on the cable 1 1 the lever 11 fulcrums on the valve stem 10 and lifts on the valve stem 5. It also fulcruins on the stem 10 imtil the reverse mm ement of the lever seats the valve Patented May 2,1922;

1. I'Vhen the valve 4 is seated and a further movement of the lever takes place it then fulcrums on the stem 5Vand lifts the stem and unseats the valve 9. Thusthe lever alternately ii'ulcrums on] the stems 5 and 10.

The weight 114 aids in the descent move ment of that end of the lever 11, and tends to keep the cable 14 taut when the lever is fulcruming on the stem 10.

The weight 11 aids inthe descent of that end ofthe lever when it is fulcruming on the stem 5'. These Weights are not essential but addsomewhat to the smoothness of the operation.

VA steam pipe extends from the drier to the. cylinder 18 and acts on a valve 21 i comprising a casing 22, a seat 23 and a valve proper 24 having a stem 25 which acts against a balance beam 26, pivoted at 27 to Y a standard 28 and having an adjustable weight :29. a v, v I

This weight is set to a position that will causeithe lever 26 to resist the pressure on the valve .until that pressure exceeds what is desired, the lever having a scale in pounds, as shown, so as to determine where to set a the weight. When the pressure on the valve 24 is sufficient to tilt the lever to the dotted position, then the operator will understand that the piston 19 is climbing too high and I openingthe exhaust valve 9 too wide, or

keeping it open too long, a condition which if unchecked would soon, result in such a delivery of steamsfrom the drler as would reduce the temperature of the rolls too much.

Therefore, to check the further rise of the piston 19 and openingof the exhaustvalve 9 the operator will open that port of the se-v ries of ports 30v which is then beneath the more or less elevated pisto-n l9. Such port is opened by operating the appropriate one of the several screw threaded valve stems 31. The ports 30 lead into a chamber 32 whence the steam admitted to it by the opening of one or more of the ports 30 through the valve stems 31 will escape through the V pipe 33.

In this way the rise of the piston 19 will be checked and it will either partially or wholly return to its lower position and in doing so partly or wholly close the exhaust valve-9 and thus reduce'or stop the exhaust of steam from the drier; And'thisescape the rod and said lever, asteam pipe conture. v

of the steam from the cylinder 18 will also relieve the valve 24 and-cause it to be reseated by the weight 'on' the lever 26. i

It will be observed thatthe portsBO and their valve stems are distributed along much of the length ofthe cylinder 18 so thatas thepiston rises from pointito point'there will be a port and valve immediately under the piston for the discharge ofthe surplus steam irrespective ofhow muchwater from" condensation may happento be in the chamber 32 ii: for any reason the pipe'33 has not'had time to drain it all off. r

A steamescape port 34 is formed in the V 3 wall of the cylinder 18 to permit of the escape ofsuch steam as maypresspast the packing between the eylinderandthe piston;

Having thus fully described"my invention,-what Ircla1m as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In an apparatus-"of the class" described, the combinatlon, with a steam inlet valve,

a steam outlet valve, and alever to which they are connected, of acylinderga piston thereln, its piston rod, a COIIHBOtIOHbBtWGQIl V nected with said cylinder beneath said piston through which steam may enterto actuatethepiston and one or more valve 'portsand stems 1n the cylinder wall adapted to pormlt the escape of steam at sure side of the piston. p p 7 2. In an apparatus of the class described,

points on the presthe combination, with aninletvalve, an 6X5 7 I ton to rise and permit the lever torock totcause- 1 the inlet valve to close-7' and the exhaust valve to open, means to indicate an excess of pressure in said steam pipe and indicate the necessity for opening of the exhaust valve, and one or'more valve ports and stems.

to permitthe escape of steam on the pres- 7 sure sideof said piston; f

In testimony-whereof I affix my signa- V WILLIAMJ B. FULTON. 

